New home for tech program

Jefferson JVS is benefitting from upgraded accommodations

Photo Provided
TAMMY SISMONDO, health technologies instructor at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School in Bloomingdale, oversees a class of students in the new lab. The program moved to another room in the building and space was expanded to make way for a classroom, lab with a surgical station, phlebotomy station, medical office and pharmacy.

BLOOMINGDALE — The health technologies program at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School has some new accommodations with a lot more space for students to obtain hands-on learning.

Instructor Tammy Sismondo’s new classroom occupies a former classroom and computer lab at the southern end of the school which underwent extensive renovations this summer. Sismondo moved from the opposite side of the building to make space for the new small animal sciences program, and in doing so gained 3,600 square feet to contain a classroom and lab with

working equipment.

Zapor Architects Group of Steubenville prepared the designs and Ft. Steuben Maintenance conducted the upgrade, which along with the small animal science lab renovation cost about $241,000. Sismondo’s lab was transformed with the removal of several walls, some new flooring, cabinetry, equipment and a fresh coat of paint and now includes a medical office, phlebotomy station, a surgical station and a pharmacy, while another addition is the SMART STAT Advanced Simulator, which works with an iPad to simulate the symptoms of an ill patient. The phlebotomy station also includes simulated arms to practice blood removal and Sismondo hopes to outfit the pharmacy with a computer in the near future. She said the new lab provides more modern amenities that are not really found anywhere else.

“It’s added space,” she said. “There are so many kids that we need more space and it’s functional. There is a surgical station with a sink to learn to scrub and gown and we’ve upgraded to 12 fully functioning beds for students to work on. (The SMART STAT) is a real-life simulation and can be programmed to do EKG’s on cardiac problems and identify arrhythmias. It can target key skills the students need to know and helps to improve their clinical skills in practice.”

The SMART STAT also has an external vitals monitor for students, reactive eyes, convulsions and seizures, IV access, phlebotomy and arterial access, among other key features. Meanwhile, the expanded lab incorporates the various skill sets and allows her 35 students, which includes 19 seniors and 16 juniors, to prepare for potential careers in the ever-growing health field.

“The students are excited about it, too,” Sismondo continued. “I have to thank the school board, (Superintendent) Dr. Todd Phillipson and my advisory board because it’s really going to enhance student

learning.”

Phillipson said he was pleased the school could provide more tools for today’s students to prepare for careers tomorrow.

“We’re excited to have equipment in our labs for students to be able to be successful in the future,” he said.